Mae West and Las Vegas were a natural match. She famously said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful,” which could easily be the slogan for both her life and the bold desert playground that is and has always been Las Vegas. The actress, playwright, and comic known for her bawdy style of humor made her Vegas debut in Hotel Sahara in 1954. West took the stage surrounded by early versions of extravagantly muscular Chippendales.
But West’s reasons for ending up in Vegas were far less dreamy. Hollywood couldn’t handle her. She had made a name in movies during the Great Depression, but Hollywood censors stepped in and basically ended her film career. While her screen career is a distant memory, she managed to forge a mightily successful career in the Vegas club scene.
Noel Coward
Noel Coward looks handsome and dapper with the Nevada desert in the background. The image was taken in 1955 when Coward arrived in Las Vegas for his first American nightclub appearance. The British star had made quite a name for himself by then.
He was the veritable English gentleman – articulate, well-dressed, usually spotted with a cigar in one hand and witty one-liners on the ready. Coward was famous for his comedic acts comprising songs and delightful banter. He was also known for plays like “Private Lives,” “Blithe Spirit,” and “Hay Fever.” No surprise that the man had legions of fans and earned the nickname “The Master” in his lifetime.
The Mint Casino
Gamblers at The Mint casino in 1958. Think you’ve heard the name of the casino before? You probably have. This is the same casino featured in the 1972 Hunter S. Thompson novel, "Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas." The Mint was launched by Milton Prell in 1957. He had already worked on places like Club Bingo by then, revamped into the Sahara later on.
Prell didn't stick around long; he sold everything to Del Webb and the next year, they started working on a 22-story hotel that was meant to cost $5 million. When it was finished in 1965, it had grown to 25 floors and was the second tallest building in Nevada, right after The Landmark. Pictured above is practically a full house of gamblers playing slot machines in 1958.
Rita Hayworth and Dick Haymes
Rita Hayworth and Dick Haymes’s love story was a whirlwind. The two met when he was still married with a fading singing career. When Hayworth entered the scene and attended his performances, his audience suddenly grew. Money trouble hits Haymes hard – his many ex-wives demanded child support, even leading to arrest warrants. Hayworth stepped up and paid most of his debts.
The kicker? Haymes didn’t have U.S. citizenship and officials had been eyeing him for deportation back to Argentina. Haymes hoped Hayworth would step in and she did. In this picture, Hayworth signs their marriage license hours after Haymes divorced Nora Eddington Haymes. The pair married on September 24, 1953, at the Sands Hotel. The celebrations included a procession through the casino.
Aerial View of the Newly Completed Flamingo Hotel
Most of what we think we know about the Flamingo Hotel and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel comes from the 1991 movie “Bugsy “in 1991. The real deal was quite different – especially the opening night at the Flamingo in 1946. Forget what happened in the film because opening night was a big deal. They had a special three-night grand opening. First, two nights for the locals, then the third night for celebrities.
Opening night was wild – a traffic jam at the parking lot, and when the doors opened, it was like a rush to claim the Wild West. The opening party was unlike anything Vegas had seen. People described the Flamingo as “posh, ritzy, and elegant.” Carpets, draperies, and fancy dishes filled the place, as well as truckloads of flower decorations – wreaths, horseshoes, and baskets.